The astronauts actively raise funds through paid appearances, special events, corporate and individual donations, memberships and fees derived from attendance at the Astronaut Hall of Fame under an agreement with the U.S. Space Camp Foundation.

Candidates are nominated by faculty members and reviewed by a scholarship board at 17 cooperating educational institutions. Two nominees from each school are submitted to ASF's scholarship committee. The committee's selections are presented to the ASF's board of directors for final approval.

ASF is a non-profit organization established in 1984 by the six surviving members of America's original Mercury astronauts and Mrs. Betty Grissom, widow of the seventh, Gus Grissom. William Douglas, a project Mercury medical doctor, and businessman Henri Landwirth also were founding board members.

Earning scholarships for this next academic year are:

• Patrick Thomas Biltgen from Marietta, GA, is an Aerospace Engineering Major working on ultra-efficient engine technology while holding a 4.0 G.P.A. at Georgia Tech.
• David Joseph Diaz from Valley Village, CA, is a senior in Engineering and already working on a research paper on pipeline micro architecture in computers at Harvey Mudd College.
• Jacqueline A. Hardgrove from Pickerington, OH, is a senior in microbiology at Miami University, where she has been involved in research on microbial ecology and immunological processes.
• Maranda McBride of Greensboro, NC, is completing her PhD in Industrial Engineering at North Carolina A & T. She returned to the University after being in the industry for two and a half years. She wants to teach and mentor African American students for careers in science and technology.
• Jason D. Surratt from Charlotte, NC, is a double major at North Carolina State in Meteorology and Chemistry with a strong interest in a growing field of atmospheric chemistry.
• Kimberly M. Stanek from Bismarck, ND, is a junior major in engineering with special interest in polymers and coatings at North Dakota State.
• Eric S. Rotthoff from State College, PA, is a junior triple major in Computers, Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State University. His special interest is in micro gravity and gravitational waves.
• Erica Gerace from Dayton, OH is a senior in molecular biology presently involved in gene isolation and replications techniques at Purdue University.
• Joseph Daniel Kummer from Honeoye Falls, NY, is a third time recipient and continues to research development of high-speed tilt rotor aircraft at Syracuse University.
• John Tom Stewart IV from Springtown, Texas, is a senior major in physics and mathematics who seeks to earn a doctorate in physics at Texas A & M.
• Veronica Chouinard from Medford, MA, is a senior in mechanical engineering at Tufts University with a strong interest in sustainable development around the world.
• Abby Lee Elliott from Orlando, FL, is a senior mathematics major at the University of Central Florida with a particular interest in calculus with an expectation to continue for a Ph. D.
• Jocelyn E. Renner from Topeka, KS, a senior double majoring in applied mathematics and Russian studies at the University of Colorado with the expectation that her knowledge of Russian and mathematics will be of value in future space programs.
• Charles A. Martin from Lexington, KY, is a senior in computer science and electrical engineering at the University of Kentucky with a great interest in development of artificial intelligence.
• Timothy Robert Jackson from Cadott, WI, is working at the University of Minnesota on a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering and continuing his studies of fluid/structure interactions in micro scale devices that are of value under micro-gravity conditions.
• Andrew A. West from Ukiah, CA, is a PH. D. candidate in Astronomy at the University of Washington working in radio astronomy as well as optical observations. Among other things, he is studying hydrogen gas in galaxies.
• Elizabeth Stoll from Chestnut, IL, is a senior biology major at Washington University in St. Louis with a special attention in the development of improved mutants of crop plants throughout the world.